Succulents steal the show with their quirky shapes and dazzling colors, but did you know there’s a simple trick to make them even more spectacular? While these resilient plants usually flaunt a palette of greens, a little-known secret can unlock a vibrant rainbow hidden within.
The key? A gentle nudge that transforms ordinary succulents into a vivid display of their brightest, most brilliant colors. Ready to find out how to make your plants truly pop?
How to get Succulents to Change Color
Succulents change color as a response to environmental stress factors.
This stress, when applied in moderation, can cause succulents to produce pigments like anthocyanin and carotenoids that create shades of red, orange, purple and blue.(ref) Common stress factors that lead to colorful succulents include changes in light exposure, fluctuations in temperature, and variations in watering frequency.
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The key is providing enough stress to trigger vibrant hues without harming the plant’s health.
Maximizing Color with Sun Stress
One of the most effective ways to make succulents colorful is through sun exposure. Many succulents need several hours of bright, direct light each day to maintain their most vivid tones.
To sun stress your succulents:
- Gradually increase sun exposure over 1-2 weeks, moving plants from bright shade to partial sun to full sun
- Aim for 4-6 hours of direct morning sunlight or bright afternoon shade
- Consider using grow lights indoors to provide sufficient light
- Watch for signs of sunburn and adjust exposure if needed
Succulents with light-colored foliage show the most dramatic color changes from sun stress. Look for varieties with names that hint at their color potential, like Sedum ‘Tricolor’ or Echeveria ‘Perle von Nurnberg’.
Using Cold Stress for Vibrant Hues
In addition to light, temperature plays a key role in succulent coloration. Exposing succulents to cold temperatures between 40-70°F (4-21°C) can intensify pink, red and purple tones. To enhance color with cold stress:
- Place succulents outdoors during cool fall nights or winter days above freezing
- Aim for a 10-20°F difference between day and night temperatures
- Bring frost-tender succulents indoors when temperatures drop too low
- Avoid exposing succulents to freezing or extremely high temperatures
Cold stress is especially effective for bringing out pigments in succulents with naturally red, pink or purple foliage. Varieties like Crassula ‘Campfire’, Kalanchoe ‘Fantastic’, and Sempervivum ‘Black’ show particularly vivid color in cool conditions.
Choosing the Right Soil
To maintain the health and color of your succulents, it’s essential to plant them in soil that provides excellent drainage. Succulents do best in a gritty, porous soil mix that allows water to drain quickly and prevents root rot.
For best results:
- Choose a commercial cactus/succulent potting mix, or make your own blend
- Mix together equal parts potting soil, coarse sand, and perlite or pumice
- Avoid using standard potting mixes that retain too much moisture
- Ensure containers have drainage holes to allow excess water to escape
With the proper well-draining soil, you’ll be able to water and stress your succulents to enhance their color without risking their health.
Unlocking a Rainbow of Succulent Color
By providing your succulents with the right balance of sun stress, cold temperatures, infrequent watering, and gritty soil, you can unlock their most brilliant colors.
Choose succulent varieties known for their color potential, and gradually introduce stressors to enhance red, orange, purple and blue tones.
Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.